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HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

Israel Architecture News - Oct 27, 2015 - 15:23   8991 views

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image © Dor Kedmi

HQ Architects installs a “Warde”, a four-giant flowers and an urban installation located in Vallero Square, in the heart of  Jerusalem, positioned at the entry of the main open market and a tram line staion, iscomposed of four 30’ high and 30’ wide inflatable flowers. This installation ispart of the municipality’s effort to improve the urban space of the citycenter. The existing squareis in poor condition. Divided by the tram line into two urban spaces, with no supportedprogram around them, and filled with inevitable urban facilities such as waste compostersand electricity sub-station, which a patchwork of ongoing landscape attempts tofix the non-coherent environment couldn’t save.

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

Warde's attempt wasnot to fight the chaos, but instead to try and “tighten up urban space”; tospread around such fantastic elements that would overcome the reality of thesquare on one-hand, and will be able to stand for themselves in thenon-realistic situation of  Jerusalem on the other.

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image © Dor Kedmi

Four giants flowerswere carefully positioned to be viewed from all around the square and from themarket near by, each is separately inflated and reacts to the situation aroundit, so that whenever pedestrians walk by, the flowers inflate and open up, andthen deflate and close as the people walk away.

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

detail of giant flower. image © Dor Kedmi

If a by-passer is looking for amoment of shade during the hot summer days, the flower will inflate and stayopen until the person leaves. When the tram is approaching the station - allfour flowers will inflate at once and signal the shoppers to hurry if they wantto catch the tram.

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

night view of flowers. image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

plan view of ''Warde''. image courtesy of HQ Architects

HQ Architects puts four giant flowers in the heart of Jerusalem

structural detail of ''Warde''. image courtesy of HQ Architects

Project Facts

Design Architect: HQ Architects

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Client: Jerusalem Municipality

Year: 2014

Key Personnel: Erez Ella, Matan Sapir, Ruth Kedar

Team: Netta Bichovsky, Guy Balter

Consultants: A. Ella constructors, Guy Ella

> via HQ Architects